Download 2.2FallofRome

Fall of the Western Roman
Empire
7.1.2
The Big Idea
Problems from both inside and outside caused the Roman
Empire to split and the western half to collapse.
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Problems in the Empire
• Main Idea 1
– Many problems threatened the Roman Empire, leading
one emperor to divide it in half.
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Problems in the Empire
• At its height the Roman Empire included all the land
around the Mediterranean Sea.
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Problems in the Empire
• Unfortunately, the empire became too large to defend
against invaders or govern (rule) efficiently.
• Some Emperors gave up territory because they feared the
empire had become too large.
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Roman territories
were like American
states.
Problems in the Empire
• Another problem Rome faced was a lack of
farmers. Rome lost a lot of farmers because
so many people were needed for the army.
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– This also led to disease and high taxes,
which also threatened Rome’s survival.
Division of the Empire
• Emperor Diocletian divided the empire
because it was too big for one person
to rule.
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Diocletian
Division of the Empire
• Emperor Constantine moved the empire’s
capital from the city of Rome to the
eastern city of Byzantium.
A mosaic of Constantine
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Division of the Empire
• The new capital city of Byzantium became known as
Constantinople. Power now resided in the eastern part of Rome.
• Power no longer resided in the western city of Rome.
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Welcome to
Byzantium
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What do you notice about the
outlining part of Constantinople?
It’s protected with walls
What types of buildings do you
notice?
See the next slide
Life in
Constantinople
Constantinople was
the capital city of
the Byzantine
Empire.
Constantinople was
a bustling city
where people of
diverse
backgrounds came
to exchange goods
and ideas.
Most city life took
place toward the
eastern edge of
town, where the
city’s palace, public
stadium, and most
notable church
were located.
Here is a scene from Constantinople
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Barbarian Invasion
• Main Idea 2:
– Barbarians invaded Rome in the 300s and
400s.
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German Barbarians
Goths
Barbarian Invasion
• Not long after Rome’s capital moved, German
barbarians raided the Roman Empire causing
wars between the Romans and the barbarians.
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Roman soldiers
German Barbarians
The Govern-ator!!
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger once
stared in a movie
about the Germanic
Barbarians called
Conan – The
Barbarian.
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Barbarian Invasion
• In the late 300s, a new group from Central
Asia, called the Huns, invaded Europe.
– The Goths fled from the Huns and moved
into the western part of Rome.
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Attila the Hun (below)
He is a Goth
The Sacking of Rome
• The Goths eventually destroyed the city of
Rome after Rome quit paying them not to attack.
– The Goths sacked, or destroyed, the city of Rome
in 410 A.D .
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The Empire in Chaos
• The Goths’ victory encouraged other groups to
invade the western half of the empire including
the Vandals, and the Huns
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How many different invaders do you count?
7 different invaders
The Empire in Chaos
• A Barbarian general overthrew the last weak emperor in
Rome and named himself king in 476.
– This event is considered the end of the western Roman
Empire. The Eastern part of Rome still stood.
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Factors in the Fall of Rome
• Main Idea 3:
– Many factors contributed
to Rome’s fall.
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Factors in the Fall of Rome
• The large size of the empire made it hard to govern.
• Barbarian invasions weakened the empire.
• Corruption, or the decay of people’s values, in politics
led to inefficiency in government. Bribes and threats
were used to achieve goals.
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• Wealthy citizens began to leave Rome, making life more
difficult for those who remained.
14. Rome initially tried to stop
Christianity. The religion then became
popular after some Roman Emperors
converted to the religion.
A. True
B. False
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15. Why did the Roman Emperor
Diocletian divide Rome into two?
A.Because he wanted an easier
job.
B. Because invaders were threatening to
take it over.
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C. Because it was too big for one ruler.
D. Because he needed to raise more taxes.
16. The capital of the Roman
Empire moved from ____ to _____.
A. Byzantium; Constantinople
B. Rome; Constantinople
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C. Rome; Italy
D. Constantinople; Rome
17. All of the following groups
were invaders into Rome,
EXCPET…
A. Germanic Barbarians
B. Byzantines.
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C. Goths
D. Huns.
18. Which was NOT a factor in
the fall of Rome?
A. Roman emperors supported the growth of
Christianity.
B. The large size of the empire made it hard
to govern.
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C. Corruption in politics led to poor
government rulers.
D. Barbarian invasions weakened the empire.